The streaming wars are here to stay. If you too are one of those people who cancel streaming services and resubscribe to them depending on what they’re offering, we advise you to take a look at our Coming Soon section with everything that’s new on streaming each month. But let’s dive into what Hulu, specifically, has to offer when it comes to series. So, whether you need to make an informed decision about subscribing to this Disney-owned service or are just looking for something new to watch, here are the best TV shows on Hulu right now.
Hulu: Pricing and Bundles
If you’re interested in a bare-bones Hulu subscription and don’t mind ads, you can get it for $7 per month or $70 for the whole year. If you prefer the no-ads version of Hulu, that’s $13 per month. Then there’s the Disney Bundle, which offers Hulu without ads and with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $20 per month.
We’ve already told you about Hulu Live + TV, the option that for $70 per month (or $76 for Hulu without ads) gives you additional access to 75+ channels, including news and sports, and that can be a good way of replacing cable.
Hulu also offers add-ons for HBO Max ($15 per month), Cinemax ($10 per month), Showtime ($11 per month) and Starz ($9 per month) on top of one of its subscription plans. But remember that the FX library is already included and you don’t have to pay an additional fee for it.
So, with all this in mind, here are the best TV shows on Hulu — and some of the best movies on Hulu — that make it worth the subscription cost.
Original Hulu TV Shows
Here’s a selection of some of the latest and most popular original TV shows on Hulu right now.
The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–) This adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s harrowing novel of the same name doesn’t make for easy watching. But expect a masterful performance from Elisabeth Moss (June) while her character strikes out as a rebel in this dystopian story about a totalitarian society. Season five of The Handmaid’s Tale arrives on Hulu in September, but all the previous episodes are ready to stream.
Normal People (2020) This twelve-episode coming-of-age miniseries not only highlighted the need for intimacy coordinators on sets but also ignited the careers of stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. This was the first adaptation of a Sally Rooney novel on Hulu, which this year debuted Conversations With Friends.
Love, Victor (2020-2022) Set in the same universe as the movie Love, Simon, the three-season dramedy Love, Victor finds Victor (Michael Cimino) figuring out his sexuality and struggling to tell his Catholic parents that he’s gay. During his tenure at Creekwood High, Victor makes friends for life and understands some truths about his attraction to — and later his relationship with — Benji (George Sear). You can read more about Love, Victor here.
Only Murders in the Building (2021–) This two-season murder mystery comedy stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. They play neighbors at an exclusive Upper West Side apartment building where someone turns up dead. The trio suspects murder and they even end up producing their own true-crime podcast while investigating the death. Martin is also one of the co-creators of the show, which features a stellar cast that includes Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Jane Lynch, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and cameos from Sting and Amy Schumer. You can read our review of Only Murders in the Building here.
Nine Perfect Strangers (2021–) Nicole Kidman plays Masha, the woman in charge of the boutique health resort Tranquillum House where nine perfect strangers gather in search of relaxation and healing. Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Manny Jacinto and Tiffany Boone round out the cast. Big Little Lies creator David E. Kelley serves as co-writer and co-showrunner of the eight-episode series. This Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies) adaptation was conceived as a miniseries but has already been renewed for a second season. You can read our full review of Nine Perfect Strangers here.
Pam & Tommy (2022) This eight-episode limited series tells the story of Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, and how they fell in love and got married, only to have a tape with the two of them having sex stolen from their home. The tape would be sold as a VHS and uploaded online. This is a good companion piece to last year’s Impeachment: American Crime Story and Framing Britney Spears — both of them are also available on Hulu. Read our full review of Hulu’s Pam & Tommy here.
The Dropout (2022) Amanda Seyfried plays Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes in this limited series from Liz Meriwether (New Girl). The Dropout follows the rise and fallout of Holmes and her blood-testing start-up company and is based on the ABC News podcast of the same name. Naveen Andrews (Sense8), William H. Macy (Shameless) and Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird) round out the cast. Read our full review of The Dropout.
The Kardashians (2022–) This new reality TV series focuses on the lives of Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie from the Kardashian-Jenner family as they invite the cameras back into their lives after the 20 seasons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Season two of this family melodrama is set to start streaming in September. You can read more about the Kardashian-Jenner family here.
FX Original Shows on Hulu
Here are some of the best TV shows on Hulu from FX — a network that exclusively streams new content on this platform.
American Horror Story (2011–) This Ryan Murphy- and Brad Falchuk-created anthology series tries to redefine horror one installment after another — and it’s been ten seasons released so far, with season eleven set to debut in October and two more already confirmed. The Horror formula is slightly tweaked in American Horror Stories (2021–), an episodic anthology show that features a new narrative each episode and that’s also available on Hulu.
Atlanta (2016–2022). Donald Glover created and stars in this dramedy set in Atlanta where he plays a musician trying to make it on the rap scene. Zazie Beetz, Brian Tyree Henry and LaKeith Stanfield round out the cast. The show is set to finish with a fourth season that’ll debut in September. Season three, which premiered in March of this year, saw the gang during a successful European tour and struggling to adjust to the newfound success they’d so long aspired to achieve.
Pose (2018–2021) It’s difficult to overstate the historical relevance of this FX show that last year finished its third and final season. Not only did it provide a front-row seat to ballroom culture in New York, but the show is also set in the late ‘80s and ‘90s and depicts the lives of a group of Black, Afro-Latina and Latina transgender women and their gay friends. Pose was praised for having the largest transgender cast of any scripted series. Star Mj Rodriguez made history by becoming the first trans woman to be nominated for an Emmy in one of the major acting categories.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019–) This mockumentary comedy series based on Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s 2014 film of the same name follows vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) and human familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén). The show premiered its fourth season in July and has already been renewed for seasons five and six.
Reservation Dogs (2021–) This half-hour comedy series from co-producers Waititi and Sterlin Harjo tells the story of a group of Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who dream of getting to California as a way of honoring their late friend. Every writer, director and series regular on this show is an Indigenous person. Reservation Dogs follows a recent trend of television stories centering Native Americans with Peacock’s Rutherford Falls and AMC’s Dark Winds. Season two of Reservation Dogs premieres on FX in August and — we won’t get tired of saying this — season one should have received Emmy nominations in various categories but was inexplicably snubbed by the TV Academy.
The Old Man (2022–) Jeff Bridges plays the titular old man in this FX psychological drama. He’s Dan Chase, a former CIA operative who’s been off the grid for decades after running away from the agency. But when they manage to track him down, he’s forced to grab his to-go bag and his two dogs — the exceptionally well-trained Dave and Carol — and live life on the run once again. John Lithgow (Dexter) and Amy Brenneman (The Leftovers) round out the cast. The Old Man has already been renewed for a second season.
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) This seven-episode FX miniseries is inspired by the true-crime book by Jon Krakauer. It narrates the story of the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her baby daughter in 1984 in suburban Utah. Andrew Garfield plays the detective in charge of the investigation who also uncovers truths about the origins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Academy Award-winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk), who was brought up as a Mormon, created the show and served as showrunner.
